'A' Team Maintain Gap at Top of Lincolnshire County Men's Southern Section
‘A’ TEAM MAINTAIN THE GAP AT THE TOP
Claiming all but two points from their clash with their ‘B’ team club rivals, Stamford ‘A’ maintained the 12-point gap separating them from fellow Lincs IBA League (South) title challengers Grantham.
Though they won comfortably by 45 shots (99-54) to ensure a gripping end to the season, take nothing away from the Stamford second string who battled hard to keep in touch.
Their reward came with two heard-earned points from the rink of Graham Patrickson - belying his meagre two year experience in the game with an outstanding performance at lead - Martin Wallace, Don Bruce and enthusiastic skip Dave Edwards.
They put up stubborn resistance against established Northants county bowlers Mick Humphreys, Dusty Miller, John Earl and Martyn Dolby and edged home 18-15.
Elsewhere Richard Allam and Keith Rippin were in imperious form at lead and No.2 respectively for skip Adam Warrington, to take the rink honours with a 37-9 score line.
Trevor Collins’ quartet chalked up 14 shots in seven ends to win by 11 and Roger Martin’s rink was never headed after building an early 14-4 lead.
Grantham’s 32-shot home win over Spalding keeps them in touch with 75 points from eight matches but a Stamford ‘A’ victory there on March 11 will put them out of reach to challenge the winners of the northern group at Louth on April 15.
Lincs Men’s League (South): Stamford ‘A’ 99 (12pts) Stamford ‘B’ 54 (2). Stamford ‘A’ names first: Tony Barwell, Brian Allen, Tony Scarr, Trevor Collins 23 John Suffling, Dennis Henshaw, Neil Crees, Martin Hewitt 12; Mick Humphreys, Dusty Miller, Jon Earl, Martyn Dolby 15 Graham Patrickson, Martin Wallace, Don Bruce, David Edwards 18; Richard Allam, Keith Rippin, Bob Warters, Adam Warrington 37 Ken Rawlins, Bill Orme, Dean Wilkinson, Mick Smith 9; Wayne Aspinall, Mike Ramsden, Mick Linnell, Roger Martin 24 Henry Gordon, Pete Linnell, Mick Owens, Ally McNaughton 14.
SENIORS IN FINE FORM
In the southern section of the Lincs Senior League, Stamford cemented their position behind runaway leaders Lincoln ‘A’ with a 103-61 defeat of Grantham, claiming 12 of the points at stake.
The only points dropped were by Kevin Vinter rink, beaten by the evergreen Joe Lewis 21-13, having led 11-6 at halfway.
However, Tony Barwell, Denis Henshaw, Peter Smith and Roger Martin, took full advantage of a weakened side, scoring 20 shots in five closing ends in a 41-9 victory to take the rink honours.
Lincs Over 60s League (South): Grantham 61 (2 pts) Stamford 103 (12). Stamford names only: S Miner, P Burt, D King, J Holroyd won 24-15; J Bourne, G King, T Christie, K Vinter lost 13-21; T Barwell, D Henshaw, P Smith, R Martin won 41-9; I Hall, D Bruce, T Scarr, T Collins won 25-18.
DOUBLE FEDERATION FINALIST
Elizabeth Wallace will contest both the women’s indoor singles at the Northants Bowling Federation finals at Peterborough IBC on March 19, after beating Shirley Suffling 21-14 at Stamford in the seniors event.
She meets either Margaret King or Pat Jones in the final and will play Michelle Smith in the four-bowl event.
In the men’s singles, Adam Warrington faces Richard Allam for a place in the final against either Stephen Harris - a 21-12 winner against Ally McNaughton - or Tom Newman who beat Tony Barwell 21-13.
Harris and Wayne Morris will be finalists again in the pairs.
PRESIDENTS TOURNAMENT
More than 60 bowlers will contest the Stamford Indoor Bowls Club’s Presidents’ charity tournament on Saturday (March 4) in aid of The Evergreen Care Trust.
The three-bowl triples tournament has attracted 22 teams playing in two sections. Each team will play four matches of six ends with two points awarded for a win and one point for each end won.
There is £225 prizemoney at stake with £100 for the winning team.
Red section ( starting at 9.30 am): Shirley Suffling (captain) v Netta Andrew, Wayne Aspinall v Jeff Bourne, Linda Cave v Steve Christie, John Cox v Jill Goode, Dave Heffernan v Anne Holmes, Mick Humphreys v Bill Andrew.
Blue Section (10.30 am): Bill Jackson v Derek King, Peter Linnell v John Little, Rose March v Alan Player, Kevin Tuck v Elizabeth Wallace, Ike Zucchetti v Peter Holmes.
FOOTNOTE: Players should book lunches in advance.
FORD & VINTER GO THROUGH
Christine Ford has reached the semi-final of the Lincs IBA mixed pairs semi-final for the second time.
Having lost the final to Horncastle with Martyn Dolby in 2018, on this occasion she partnered Kevin Vinter to a 17-9 victory over Lincoln’s Nick Orrey and Jenna Earl.
At Sleaford on April 2 they will meet a Spalding duo - either Jean Patterson & Dominic McVittie or Karen Martin and Stephen Harris.
Stamford will have four representatives in the Lincs IBA Open Over 60s Singles qualifiers at Boston on March 18.
Richard Allam will play Mick Thompson (Lincoln) for the chance to meet clubmate John Holroyd or Ray Brown (Scunthorpe).
Jeff Pitt faces John Maury (Sleaford) for the opportunity to face either Paul Flatters (Boston) or Andy Hall (Dunholme) with Peter Burt taking on Richard White (Lincoln).
OWEN A STAR OF UNDER 18s
Stamford bowling prospect Owen Aspinall (14) represented Lincolnshire in the EIBA under-18 Rinks competition against Yorkshire at Selby when they were beaten 32-24, failing to qualify for the final stages.
Owen skipped Lucy Allerton and her nine-year-old brother Harry from Boston to a 17-15 victory with Harry driving the jack into the ditch to set up a winning four-shot count. Unfortunately Jack Wells, Oliver Stanley and George Almey from Spalding were unable to save the tie, beaten by 10 shots.
Left to right (back): Jack Wells, George Almey Richard White and Owen Aspinall (front) Lucy Allerton, Harry Allerton, Oliver Stanley.
Said team manager Richard White: “Lincolnshire are a very young team but with 30 entries for the county under 18 singles on April 1, the future looks bright. Owen was outstanding in his play and with his maturity, conduct and encouragement of Lucy and young Harry playing in his first game, it was a credit to him and the county. He is a future star of the game.”
MARK ROYAL ROAD SHOW.
World-ranked bowler Mark Royal, who beat former World No.1 Alex Marshall at the Potters championship in January only to lose in a quarter-final tie break to eventual winner Jamie Walker, brings his Jack & Bowls equipment roadshow to Stamford IBC on March 15 (11.30 am to 6.30pm).
As well as passing on valuable tips and equipment advice, Mark will have clothing, shoes and other items on sale and customers will also have the opportunity to ‘try-before-you-buy’ sets of bowls on the club’s six rink carpet.
Take a tip from Mark:
https://sites.google.com/site/stamfordindoorbowlsclub/news/markroyalfromleadtoskipmakethemostofyourposition
